When I try to start my truck (warm or cold) I turn the key to the run (not start position) and wait 30 to 45 seconds and then the wait to start light comes on. If I try starting before the usual 30 to 45 seconds it will only crank over . No code are present . Any comments or help would be appricated 1999 CTD, 4x4, auto.

 

That is definately strange one , and have never run into that one.... I would pull the ECM connector and check the keyswitch power and check that it is getting power right when you turn the keyswitch. you will need a wiring chart to find the pin numbers to check. do you get the engine check light at the time you turn the key or later ?

 

Hi Thank You for your time . if i leave the key in the on position it will cycle the wait to start light after about 30 to 45 seconds. and if i leave the key on for 2 hours or more it will turn the check engine light out sometimes. the dealer has looked at it several times and the only answer they have is it "Might" be the dash circuit panel behind the instruments . They are also stumped.... again thank you for your help


also the ignition switch has been replaced

 

Seeing you are in SoCal it should never get cold enough there to cause a no start when cranking your truck over right away in the morning without waiting for the heater grids to cycle. I think you need to have your fuel system checked. As far as you leaving the key on for 30-40 secs.....yes, that even confuses me.

 

OK LOL one more time , if you wait for light out to crank the engine over and it does start right up ? but if you try to start it right away when you get in the truck it doesn't want to start ?

 

Hi John ,
If I get in the truck and turn the key to the start position it will just crank (no start)wait to start will not light up on the dash,

If I get in and just crank the motor over it will crank for about 45 seconds and as soon as I let off the key (stop cranking but still in the run position) then the wait to start comes on and I can turn the key to start it right away.



but if I get in turn the key to the run position and leave it for 30 to 45 seconds then the wait to start light will come on and i can start it up .....



Thank You

 

I'll bet that's your problem- whoever installed the new switch screwed it up.

Did the problem start then?

 

Hi Roadranger,
No it started long before the switch was replaced ,,, but thanks

 

OK , hmmm the engine ECM will see a keyswitch power 12v. from the keyswitch and that is all it need to get the motor running , if I had your truck , I would hook up Insite to it and use monitor and observe what your engine speed is doing and what your user fueling state is , and if that is all ok , then I would do a reflash of the calibration , some how or another your ECM is not getting the keyswitch power right away most likely , hope that helps , not to put Dodge down , but I would run it over to Cummins and have them do those things .

 

and fair warning , if they do find that the OEM side is doing the problem , then you will have to take it to Dodge to have it fix , but you will have info for them. one thing that any of them can do is , remove the keyswitch power from the ECM connector to the ECM and put another power source from the batteries directly to the ECM and try that .

 

Thank You John
I'll take it to Cummins and go from there ..... Thank You

 

i put my money on a bad capacitor on one of the boards.

 

I agree with you Duner ,I would bet it is in the OEM side

 

Wonder how it would cold start with the Cummins ECM eliminator hooked up to the VP.......

 

LOL I was trying to figure out what you meant by ECM eliminator , now I know what you meant , the electronic VP box right ? , actually we have new system we use now that totally eliminate the OEM system completely from our engines and we can run them on the dyno that way, let me tell you.... this system is not cheap , but has already helped us alot by eliminating OEM side completely and having a box with a keyswitch we can hook up . numerous times we have spent hours troubleshooting our system to come find out the problem is in the OEM side , but dont expect every distributor to have this test equipment .